It’s been difficult playing without Neymar - Luis Suarez

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has said that he and Lionel Messi are still hurting from Neymar's Barcelona exit after trying to convince the Brazil forward to stay. Neymar formed a third of Barcelona's famous M-S-N attack alongside Messi and Suarez before a world-record £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

Suarez has struggled since Neymar's departure, having only scored three La Liga goals this season, with his last coming almost a month ago in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid. The former Liverpool forward admits he is now often drawn out to Neymar's old left-hand side because I see there's no one there, and revealed the transfer has had an emotional impact on Barcelona's frontline.

He said “We miss Ney a lot on the pitch, but more off it, because he was special, he's said it. We had a lot of fun. He transmits happiness and joy all of the time. He was important for us. He's playing for another team now but I don't hold it against him, the opposite. I tried to convince him to stay because I think here's the best place for him, but it's a decision he had to take. Messi and I tried to do what would benefit the team. But we never said 'Don't go because you won't be happy. We said we didn't want him to go, but that he was free to do what he wanted. Because of the friendship we have, it was painful that he left.”